Minister: We’re not negotiating with bandits for varsity students’ release

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has condemned a statement credited to Zamfara State Governor, Dr Dauda Lawal, accusing the federal government of playing politics with the rescue of the abducted students of the Federal University Gusau in the state capital.

Idris said no official of the federal government has been negotiating with bandits to secure the release of the students, who were kidnapped by bandits last Friday.

The minister stressed that Lawal should have appreciated security operatives making efforts to rescue the students rather than berating the government.

The minister, in a statement issued on Monday by the Deputy Director, Press of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Suleiman Haruna, said the federal government institutions are empowered by law to spring to action, with or without prompting, to ensure safe return of citizens illegally taken hostage, like in the case of the students.

Haruna stated: “The fact that details of such delicate operations are not revealed by the institutions responsible does not make it in any way surreptitious, as the Zamfara State Government atrociously described this effort.

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“For the avoidance of doubt, no official of the Federal Government is engaged in negotiation with any bandit or group of bandits.

“The government, however, maintains its resolve to explore every available avenue that can lead to de-escalation of tension and bring back peace to communities ravaged by banditry.

“However, if communities decide to borrow a leaf from what has helped quench unrest in other parts of the country to engage themselves in dialogue, the Federal Government would not be in a haste to condemn such people-driven initiative.”

He quoted Idris as assuring Nigerians that the federal government and its institutions are working assiduously to turn around the current situation and bring an end to the ebbing cases of banditry, kidnapping, and all forms of criminality.

He added: “Political differences or personal fight with anybody should not be brought into the serious matter of national security to avoid demoralising our troops or derailing government’s effort.

“The Federal Government is willing to listen and continue its ongoing engagement with all stakeholders across the country in working out a lasting solution to our security problems. We urge all to put hands on deck with us.”

The Star